Abstract

Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPVv) is used worldwide for prevention of infection. However several reports link this vaccine, with immune-mediated reactions, especially with neurological manifestations. Our previous results showed that HPVv-Gardasil and aluminum-immunized mice developed behavioral impairments. Studies have shown a positive effect of phospholipid supplementation on depression and cognitive functions in mice. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplement on vaccine-induced depression. Sixty C57BL/6 female mice were immunized with HPVv-Gardasil, aluminum or the vehicle (n = 20 each group), and half of each group were fed 5 times per week with 0.2 ml of a dietary supplement enriched with phosphatidylcholine. The mice were evaluated for depression at 3 months of age, by the forced swimming test. Both the Gardasil and the aluminum-treated mice developed depressive-like behavior when compared to the control group. The HPVv-Gardasil-immunized mice supplemented with phosphatidylcholine significantly reduced their depressive symptoms. This study confirms our previous studies demonstrating depressive-like behavior in mice vaccinated with HPVv-Gardasil. In addition, it demonstrates the ability of phosphatidylcholine-enriched diet to attenuate depressive-like behavior in the HPVv-Gardasil-vaccinated mice. We suggest that phosphatidylcholine supplementation may serve as a treatment for patients suffering vaccine-related neurological manifestations.

Keywords

Gardasil Aluminum Depression Behavior Autoimmunity

Abbreviations

HPVv

Human papillomavirus vaccine

HPV

Human papillomavirus

ASIA

Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants

PC

Phosphatidylcholine

FST

Forced swimming test

MANOVA

Multivariate analysis of variance

CNS

Central nervous system

CFS

Chronic fatigue syndrome

PS

Phosphatidylserine

GC

Glucocorticoid

Shaye Kivity and Maria-Teresa Arango have contributed equally to this work.

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